Crate



(No Model.)

J'. L. REEVES.

CRATE.

No. 464,122.- Patented Deo. 1, 189,1..

STATES Nirn ATENT FFICE.

JAMES L. REEVES, OF COLLINSVILLE, ALABAMA.

Y SPECFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,122, datedDecember 1, 1891.

Application tiled ,Tune 25, 1891. Serial No. 397,453. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. REEVES, a citizen of the United States,residing atCollinsville, in the county of De Kalb and State of Alabama,have invented a new and useful Egg-Case, of which the following is aspecilication.

The invention relates to improvements in egg-crates.

The object of the present invention is to provide an egg-crate whichwill be cushioned and be capable of a limited vertical movement and alongitudinal swing to take up shocks and prevent its contentsbeing'injured.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated l in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a perspective View of anegg-crate constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation, the frame being partly broken away to show thedisposition of the springs. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view. Fig. 4is alongitudinal sectional view.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates an egg-crate, whichis suspended in a frame 2 by springs 3, and is adapted to move or`oscillate vertically and horizontally to take up shocks to prevent itscontents being injured, and it is provided with a cover 4f, which hasone end hinged and the other end provided with a spring-catch 5, adaptedto lock the cover closed and arranged to engage a recess in the body ofthe crate.

The frame 2, which incases the crate and forms a permanent part thereof,is composed of four vertical corner-posts 6, longitudinal top and bottombars and S, whichhave their ends secured to the posts 6, transverse topand bottom bars 9 and 10, and top and bottom cleats 11 and 12, extendinglongitudinally of the frame and secured to the top and bottom bars andextending inward opposite the top and bottom of the crate to retain thelatter within the frame. The bottom cleats extend inward a considerabledistance, While the top cleats extend inward and cover only the upperedges of the sides of the crate, thereby providing an unobstructedwayfor the lcover 4, which may be opened and closed, and the contents ofthe cratemay be inspected without removing the crate from the frame,which construction is exceedingly more advantageous and convenient thanthose crates which are arranged within a supplemental frame or box andhave to be removed or the lid of the supplemental box or frame has to beopened in order to inspect the contents of the crate proper.

The springs 3 may be of 'any desired construction; but they arepreferably constructed as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich they are V-shaped, and are provided at their apexes with coils 13,and each has its upper leg provided with a hook and secured to a staple14 of the body of the crate or hooked in an eye in the end of a wirepassedaround the bottom of the crate from the end of one springtoanother on opposite side of crate and fastened in same Way, and theother leg is arranged in the socket or opening of the adjacent verticalpost 6 at or near the bottom end. These springs serve ascushions, andWhile the crate is being handled it has an easy swaying motion in theframe, and all shocks are cushioned and injury to the contents of thecrate is prevented.

The parts are strengthened by metallic straps 15 and wires 16, theformer of which are secured to the vertical posts and the top cleats,and the latter are secured to the body of the crate and extend acrossthe bottom thereof and part vvay up the sides to the other end ofsprings and fastened to the same; but other straps maybe employed, ifdesired and greater strength is required.

It will be seen that the crate is simple and inexpensive inconstruction, that its contents are cushioned against shocks, and thatthe frame forms a permanent feature and does not necessitate the removalof the crate in order to open the cover and examine the contents.

The cover and the bottom of the crate may be provided on their innerfaces with suitable cushioning material, or such material may beAinterposed between the contents and the top and bottom of the crate andmay form no permanent fixture thereof.

y Spiral springs 17 are interposed between IOO the ends ot' the crateand the frame, andthey are secured to the former or the latter, or both.

What I claim isl. The combination of the crate provided with a'cover,the frame receiving the crate and forming a permanent part and providedWith an opening in its top arranged opposite the said cover to permitthe cover of the crate to be opened and closed Without removing thecrate from the frame, and cushioningsprings attached to the crate andthe frame and. supporting the former Within the latter, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination of the crate having a hinged cover, the framereceiving the crate and provided with top and bottom cleats proj ectinginward and contining the crate within the frame, the top cleatsterminating over the upper edges of the sides of the crate, whereby anopening or passage is formed for the cover to enable the latter to beopened and closed Without removing the crate from the frame, andsuitable cushionin g-sprin gs, substantially as described.

3. The combination ot' the crate having a 25 hinged cover, the framereceiving and confining the crate Within it and provided With an openingor passage for the cover of the crate, and the V-shaped springs providedat their apexes With coils and having their legs se- 3o JAMES L. REEVES.

Vitnesses:

B. A. NOWLIN, W. A. WILBANKs.

